[Milsurplus] Some Interesting Items

[Kludge]

-----Original Message-----
From: David Stinson [mailto:arc5 at ix.netcom.com] 
> I posted some time ago that the salvation of our hobby was
> going to be "connecting" with the mil-vehicle and reenactment
> community, which has a much larger base and "staying power."
> I still think that.

And I agree with this.  (EEEK!  I agree with someone!  Note the date!  ;-) )

The problem is that Oahu, which has something like 90% of the state's
population, has *no* mil-vehicle community and the only "reenactment" folks
are SCA which hardly counts.  This is why I have to be a bit more creative
in locating potential converts to the cause.  As it is, "conversion by
sword" of the ricebox infidels didn't work out so well.  As the cops
explained it to me, people get a bit testy about being poked at with large
sharp pointy things (reprofiled katanas.)  

> Hams have a tendency to be "lone wolves."
> I understand that and it applies to me, too.
> But if you want your passion to live past you,
> you're going to have to overcome that.

Some of us (*ahem*) have issues that aggravate this as I've mentioned
briefly before.  Agoraphobia & social anxiety suck and I am working on them
but even my psycho-nannies agree I need to find a companionable companion to
act as an "anchor" to help with this.  Again the cops tend to get in the way
since every time I think I have a done deal they make me give her back since
kidnap is apparently illegal here.  What a bummer.

> Go to their meets (without being a pest)
> and ask to display *correct* and *neat* period equipment.
> Ham-hacks, incorrect or dirty/banged-up stuff will
> get you excluded the next meet and hurt the rest of us
> who are trying, so please don't.

Okay, being serious for a moment, lacking the aforementioned groups, I've
been assembling a list of potential places I could find converts or at least
do "show and tell" presentations.  This is what the ARA/ATA and GF/RU were
for and the postwar ARC equipment will likely be used for although that
audience is a lot smaller.  (We only have one or two air shows a year here.)


Bringing the Grade B SCR-274-N up to Grade A* shouldn't be a problem as a
substitute for the ARA/ATA although I'd really rather not do it that way.  I
have one each ATA dynamotor, modulator, modulator mount and the transmitters
I want, although one transmitter requires some deconversion, but absolutely
nothing else toward a complete ARA/ATA system.  Also, the SCR-274-N is a
combination of black wrinkle and unpainted aluminum which, to me, is just
wrong.  It should be all one or the other.  

I wonder if anyone would notice if the bare metal bits got painted ... ;-)

* This is still lacking a triple receiver control box mount (ARC# 7054 -
same for all three systems), an FT-225 modulator mount and some cable ends
to connect the receivers to the control box which will be directly above
them.  I have a length of cable that should be sufficient to provide for
this and some of the postwar equipment's needs - which will also require
cable ends and an additional bit of cable come to think upon it.  

What I have in Model D equipment is a mishmash that includes a GF-11/RU-16
pair sans coils I should be able to restore, an RU-16 dynamotor in decent
shape (Yes, I know it also powers the GF-11 but that's what it calls
itself.), a couple BD-87s, a mix of SCR-A*-183/-283 control heads and a
couple SRC-A*-283 antenna relays.  There isn't enough of either to form a
decent system which is troublesome.  Presuming I can find a BC-A*-229 & -230
pair with tubes that I can actually afford, the rest should be less a
problem.  Well, except for the junction box and that depends a lot on the
amount of latitude given the aircraft manufacturers for building
"manufacturer supplied" ones.  I'd have to see a spec on that.

Building "typical" radio shelves for military equipment shouldn't be a major
headache if I can get structural drawings from several aircraft, or at least
the necessary portions thereof.  The civilian installations were a bit more
relaxed with greater consideration toward weight and balance and less toward
ease of access.  In a few cases, *way* less.  :-)

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking with it ... unless I get a better
off, that is.  :-)

Best regards,
 
Michael, WH7HG ex-K3MXO, ex-KN3MXO, WPE3ARS, BL01xh ex-Mensa A&P PP BGI 
I am me.  I’m the only one who’s qualified.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NTH/index.aspx
http://wh7hg.blogspot.com/
http://kludges-other-blog.blogspot.com
Hiki Nô!